The 2017 Honda clarity is a mid-length four-door sedan that includes two exceptional powertrains, each of them 0-emssion. the first to reach, in December 2016, became the clarity gas mobile, that's powered via a hydrogen fuel cell that feeds natural hydrogen, stored within the automobile's excessive-pressure tanks, into a fuel cell that mixes with air to produce power and natural water. The power powers a motor that drives the front wheels. Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price.

It doesn’t need to be plugged in to charge a battery; alternatively, the motive force needs to refill it with excessive-pressure hydrogen at a specialised (and high-priced) station—of which there are handiest about 30 at this factor. The readability went on sale in December 2016, but is offered simplest in elements of California where hydrogen stations are to be had. It comes in only one trim level, but is properly-equipped for a mid-length sedan.

the second version, the 2017 Honda clarity electric powered, will move on sale in spring 2017, and is powered by means of the equal electric motor. Its power comes from a lithium-ion battery percent that can be plugged into both household modern-day or a 240-volt level 2 charging station to recharge it. even as a few technical information have not been launched, Honda says the battery range could be "approximately 80 miles." That puts the electrical clarity at a substantial disadvantage towards smaller electric powered automobiles get more suitable levels of one hundred to a hundred twenty five miles, not to mention the Chevrolet Bolt EV with its 238-mile score. Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price.

each versions of the clarity will to start with be very low-quantity, lease-simplest fashions presented entirely in California. the electrical model will value approximately $35,000, while the hydrogen version begins at extra than $50,000—even though Honda throws in three years' worth of free hydrogen with that one. nevertheless, readability sightings this yr are probable to be as rare as those of unique supercar models. (subsequent 12 months, the pair may be joined by using a higher-extent sibling, the 2018 Honda clarity Plug-In Hybrid, with an all-electric variety projected at 42 miles or higher.)

We price the 2017 Honda readability lineup at 6.0 out of 10, despite the fact that that wide variety doesn't encompass a protection rating because it hasn't been rated for crash safety by means of the NHTSA or IIHS and likely won't be. It wins for a comfortable indoors and quiet experience, however loses factors for ordinary outdoors strains that don't quite come together and use it really is restrained handiest to California.

Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price

The readability gas mobile is the brand new in a protracted line of gas-cellular vehicles Honda has built since 1999, they all launched only in handfuls. It succeeds the FCX readability, another hydrogen sedan model of which approximately 60 have been leased within the U.S. from 2008 to 2014. Its opponents are the Toyota Mirai sedan and Hyundai Tucson gas mobile—each presented in further restricted regions, although Toyota plans to supply up to three,000 of its Mirai gas-cellular models each year. Honda plans to offer handiest a small fraction of that. The readability electric powered follows 1,a hundred Honda match EVs hatchbacks leased from 2012 via 2014, a number of them now re-leased to their drivers for a second time.

We spent a day and greater than 80 miles in a clarity fuel cellular sedan outside Santa Barbara, California, in March 2017, which include a brief fuel top-off at that city's one hydrogen station. after you discover a filling station of the proper strain and communications interface, the readability gas cell can be refilled in approximately 3 minutes. We haven't but pushed a readability electric powered. Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price.

Styling and design: The 2017 Honda clarity gas cellular is ready the same size as the Honda Accord mid-size sedan, but it looks rather one-of-a-kind. The shape seems to had been constituted of same elements of three departed models: the preceding clarity FCX sedan, the Honda insight hybrid hatchback, and the Honda Accord Crosstour fastback utility automobile.

The outdoors traces are challenged for flattering angles, and in profile, the clarity appears portly on the rear fenders. Its bulk is barely disguised via a black roof, which pulls the attention lower. The excessive-tailed "kammback" design may be familiar to those who comply with excessive-performance inexperienced cars; the rakish fastback profile has a piece of a lift, with a outstanding lip spoiler on the tail.

Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price

The greenhouse also tapers on the rear to aid aerodynamics—which is partly accountable for the odd rear-fender contouring. The clarity includes light-weight aerodynamic wheels, underbody aero panels and—because of the tougher sightlines that the upkick in back introduces—an extra rear window within the trunk lid to help with rear visibility.

interior, the clarity’s passenger area is divided into four areas, one for every occupant, with the tunnel creating dividing the cabin down the center. A small shifter permits easy fingertip choice of forward, opposite, neutral, or park modes via a shift-through-twine gadget. The sprint itself is right in step with other modern-day Honda models, despite the fact that the tool panel itself gives a more futuristic, electricity-targeted layout, and trims and door handles do offer a futuristic departure from Honda’s different production fashions.

overall performance and performance: At a simple degree, the readability gas cellular is powered by way of an electric motor, rated at 174 horsepower and 221 pound-toes of torque, that drives the front wheels. The energy that powers it comes from a fuel mobile under the hood, with a small lithium-ion battery p.c. below the front seats can provide brought power while unexpected acceleration is wanted. Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price.

The 2017 Honda readability makes use of Honda’s cutting-edge generation of its so-known as V waft gasoline-cellular stack. it's smaller but greater effective, and Honda notes that its complete system—fuel-cellular stack, power electronics, and drive motor—suits underneath the hood inside the same space as a traditional V-6 drivetrain. The gasoline cell runs most of the time that the car is transferring; the battery % also recaptures electricity from braking, or unused electricity created by the gas cellular, and stores it for future use when needed for performance or surprising strength.

The readability uses a sophisticated double-wishbone suspension and its turning radius is simply 17.7 ft. in the back of the wheel, it drives hopefully and holds the street better than some other mid-length sedans. Honda says its acceleration and performance are roughly those of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline automobile of the equal size. Our difficult estimate for zero-to-60-mph acceleration became nine.2 seconds, on a par with mass-market electric motors (although now not, possibly, the mid-size luxury sedans at the clarity's charge of more than $50,000). the only sadness is that even as the clarity drives like an electric car, its off-the-line performance is greater measured because it can not pull most current from its small battery, and the gasoline cellular prefers to function at a regular output.

Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price

The clarity gasoline mobile is EPA-rated at 365 miles of variety from its five.five gallons of fairly compressed hydrogen. it is higher than the Mirai's 312 miles and the Tucson gas cell's 265-mile score, in addition to higher than any Tesla version now on sale. With lively using, however, we located the auto will show you a selection closer to 250 miles—better than most electric motors, however less incredible than its rated 365 miles.

In typical strength efficiency, Honda claims that the gasoline-cell readability is twice as green as a compact hybrid gas-electric vehicle. California requires one-third of hydrogen fuel to be produced using renewable electricity, but definitely all hydrogen gasoline these days is made from herbal gas, producing carbon dioxide as a byproduct. The readability electric, a natural battery-electric car charged from the grid, remains extra energy-efficient in certainly all cases.

comfort and application: The clarity offers relaxed seating for 4 adults, and we might liken the riding role to be much like that of the present day Accord. the motive force's seat is power adjustable in many guidelines, although the front passenger seat doesn't regulate for top. it is a touch tight on rear head room for taller adults, but rear leg room is ideal, as you would assume in a massive sedan. Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price.

Honda suggests the cabin is fashionable yet futuristic; it includes a few first-class materials now not normally observed in mid-size sedans from extent manufacturers, together with a nice beige suede-like material at the sprint surface. The indoors is fabricated from a plant-derived Honda Bio-cloth. There are drink holders for every occupant, as well as various trays and garage cubbies—which includes doors pockets and center-console space—and there’s beneath-trunk garage.

The trunk itself is eleven.1 cubic ft—small, even though probably ok for a generous run to the grocery save. Honda notes the trunk can take four sets of golf clubs, appropriate for a foursome occupying all the seating spots. one of the motives for the very high trunk line became to provide adequate trunk quantity in the back of the intrusion of a massive armored cylinder set crosswise at the back of the rear seat that holds hydrogen gasoline at pressures of 10,000 psi.

The electricity information show within the clarity consists of a three-dimensional display with meters for hydrogen intake (a ball-formed gauge), battery levels, motor output, and experience and efficiency records. those few screens and the tiny shifter aside, but, one of the readability's blessings over the alternative two hydrogen-powered vehicles on the market is that it is quiet sufficient to be incorrect for an all-electric powered vehicle. Honda's controlled to muffle the pumps, compressors, and other hardware which are now and again audible in Toyota's Mirai. An electric-car driving force may not recognise from inside the cabin that the clarity gasoline cell didn't plug in—and that's a praise. Introducing The Honda Clarity Electric 2017 Review, Specs, Price.

safety and functions: protection capabilities measure up entirely to those in different sedans with sophisticated technology. in addition to the usual supplement of airbags, the readability fuel cellular comes popular with a rearview digicam, adaptive cruise manipulate, ahead collision warning and automated emergency braking, and energetic lane control. The high-pressure armored hydrogen tanks were significantly crash-tested to make certain that while the car may additionally give way round them, they will stay intact.

As in any huge sedan with a tail this high, rear 3-region visibility isn't proper. but no matter the very excessive and slanted rear window, rear visibility through the reflect is better than you'd anticipate, because of a window inside the panel among the tops of the 2 rear seats and a corresponding window inside the trunk lid. This offers a two-part rear view, with the decrease half being via the top of the trunk compartment, but it really works.

there may be simplest a single trim level for either readability version, reflecting its possibly very low sales volume. The gas cell version comes trendy with all-LED lighting fixtures, twin-sector weather control, power-adjustable heated front seats, a head-up display for velocity and different statistics, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen audio gadget that consists of Bluetooth pairing, at the side of Android vehicle and Apple CarPlay, amongst other functions.